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DOS Timeline ~ Part Two - 1994 Onwards
Return to DOS Timeline ~ Part One ~ 1980 to 1993
A History of Microsoft MS-DOS and Windows (and main competitors) on the 8086 Processor family
NOTE - Other (minor) versions of
DOS & Windows exist, This list is based on major versions
plus items observed or reported
Updates other than NT Service Packs are available via the PowerLoad Resource Pages
Note - Any changes listed continue on to later versions:
| Month | Year | Version |
Major Changes or Remarks |
| Q1 | 1994 | MS-DOS 7.0 BETA 1 | Work starts on a Enhanced version of MS-DOS for 32bit Windows. At first based on MS-DOS 6.2 with DoubleSpace but later changed due to legal action. |
| March | 1994 | MS-DOS 6.21 | Following legal action by Stac Electronics, Microsoft released this interim version which had DoubleSpace removed This was an interim limited release of MS-DOS until replacement of DoubleSpace ~ Otherwise identical in function to MS-DOS 6.2 |
| March | 1994 | MS-DOS621UG | MS-DOS 6.21 Upgrade Edition for all earlier versions (No Step-Up Released) |
| March | 1994 | 6.21 Supplemental | Microsoft released a Supplemental Update of Earlier Files removed from v6.21 |
| March | 1994 | Win32s for Windows 3.1 |
Win32s is a set of runtime libraries for Windows 3.1, which enable users to run most Windows NT 32-bit applications on Windows 3.1, without the extensive hardware requirements of Windows NT. |
| April | 1994 | MS-DOS 6.22 | Microsoft licensed a disk-compression package called DoubleDisk from VertiSoft Systems and renamed it DriveSpace, which was included in this version. (Other than disk-compression there is no difference to MS-DOS 6.2) |
| April | 1994 | MS-DOS622UG | MS-DOS 6.22 Upgrade Edition for all earler versions from 3.3 onwards. |
| April | 1994 | MS-DOS6.22SU | MS-DOS 6.22 Step-Up for 6.0, 6.2, 6.21 Users Only |
| April | 1994 | 6.22 Supplemental | Microsoft released a Supplemental Update of Earler Files removed from v6.22 |
| May | 1994 | MS-DOS 7.0 BETA 2 | Second BETA of WindowsDOS now based on DriveSpace Technology. |
| September | 1994 | Chicago |
Microsoft announces
that Microsoft Windows 95 is the official name for the
next version of Windows, code-named
"Chicago." This name was chosen to make it
easier for customers to identify the most current
version of Microsoft Windows. It is a fully
integrated 32-bit operating system replacing Windows
3.11, Windows for Workgroups 3.11, and MS-DOS
as the mainstream desktop operating system. Windows 4.0 (95) uses a version of MS-DOS to 'Bootup' (MS-DOS 7.0) |
| September | 1994 | WindowsNT 3.5 | Windows New Technology 3.5 |
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NT Service Packs | No recorded Service Pack was published for NT 3.5 |
| November | 1994 | OS/2 Warp 3.0 | IBM OS/2 Warp 3.0 released |
| August | 1995 | Windows 95 OEM | OEM (Pre-Installed) 32bit Processing - Long Filename Support & other major improvements over Windows 3.x (Still uses original FAT16) DriveSpace Included Windows 95 supports two new partition types (0E and 0F) to support the logical block addressing (LBA) INT13h extensions as specified in the Windows 95 Driver Development Kit (DDK).~ Includes Internet Explorer 1.0 |
| August | 1995 | Windows 95 | Retail Windows 95 for Computers without MS-DOS (or earlier MS-DOS Version) Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow |
| August | 1995 | Integral MS-DOS 7.0 |
MS-DOS
7.0 (Also called WindowsDOS) is an integral part of
Windows 95. (It and later versions are NOT available as a Stand-Alone OS) It provides support for Long Filenames only when Windows is running, but removes a large number of other utilities, some of which are on the Windows 95 CD versions in the \other\oldmsdos directory. (Reports itself as Windows 95) |
| August | 1995 | Win95UG | Windows 95 Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows |
| August | 1995 | Educational Pack | Discounted Combined Win95 & NT4.0 for Teachers & Students Only. |
| August | 1995 | Win95 PlusPack | Extras for Win95 such as DriveSpace 3, MS Themes and 3D Pinball Game |
| August | 1995 | Win95 CD-ROM Extras & Updates |
Microsoft release Extra Applications found on 95 CD for Floppy Disk Users. (This MS page has changed now to the equivalent of 'WindowsUpdate') |
| September | 1995 | Win95 - DOS 7.0 Supplemental |
Microsoft release a Supplemental Update of MS-DOS 6.22 Files removed from Win95 Called OLDDOS.EXE ~ Microsoft still find it difficult to 'Kill' DOS |
| September | 1995 | WindowsNT 3.51 | Updated Release of NT
3.5 with additional network drivers Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow |
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NT ServicePacks | The Last Service Pack for Windows NT 3.51 was SP- 5 (Dated October 1996) |
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1995 | Nashville |
Windows 95 OSR (OEM Service Release) Update Program |
> |
1995 | Cairo |
Windows NT (4.0) 'Future Technology' BETA Program. (Also reported as Detroit) |
> |
1995 | Pegasus |
Windows CE (Compact Edition) Development Program - Based on Windows 95 and designed for the Handheld PC (H/PC) and Portable PC (P/PC) also known as Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) ~ The Windows CE series is included to complete the Windows Range. |
| February | 1996 | Windows 95A | OSR 1.0 (As with later sub-versions of OSRs - Pre-Installed) IE 2.0 Included. |
| February | 1996 | Win95 SP1 |
Service Pack 1 for Windows 95 (95A Upgrade) This was the only Windows 9x Service Pack, After this MS placed further updates on internet 'WindowsUpdate' Web Site. |
| August | 1996 | WindowsNT 4.0 | Microsofts (Cairo) 32bit Muli-Tasking Operating System. Available in Server, Desktop and Upgrade Versions. (Development continues for Option & Enterprise) Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow |
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NT ServicePacks | The Latest Service Pack for NT 4.0 is SP - 6a (Dated December 1999) |
| August | 1996 | OS/2 Warp 4.0 | IBM OS/2 Warp 4.0 released |
| September | 1996 | Windows 95B | OSR 2.0 (Mainly a Floppy Disk Release) - Windows 95 OSR 2 onwards support two new partition types (0B and 0C) to support the FAT32 file system. Maximum partition size now 2 TeraBytes (TB) But still 2.1 GBs if is FAT16 selected. |
| September | 1996 | Windows 95B CD | OSR 2.1 with added USB Support (CD-ROM Versions Only) IE 3.0 Included. |
| September | 1996 | Integral MS-DOS 7.10 |
Updated MS-DOS 7.10 is an integral part of OSR 2 and later versions of Windows. The main change is support for FAT 32, a more efficient and robust way of storing Data on Large Hard Disks. ('Large Disk Support' is an Option in FDISK) |
| November | 1996 | WindowsCE 1.0 | Pegasus ~ All versions of Windows CE are OEM releases only. |
| Late | 1996 | Windows NT5 |
Windows NT 5.0 Development Program. Windows NT Background & History |
| April | 1997 | PC-DOS 7.0 | PC-DOS 7.0 Revsion 0 - Update available to Revsion 1 (PC-DOS 2000) from IBM |
| September | 1997 | NT5 BETA |
Windows NT 5.0 BETA Program. Click here for NT5/2000 Build TimeLine |
| November | 1997 | Windows 95C | OSR 2.5 with Integrated Internet Explorer 4.0 (Improved USB Support) Some issues of 95B/C Install CD-ROMs were 'Bootable' Dependent on BIOS Support. |
| November | 1997 | WindowsCE 2.0 | Mercury ~ Successor to Windows CE 1 |
| November | 1997 | OpenDOS 7.01 | DrDOS sold to Caldera who release it as Caldera OpenDOS 7.01 |
| December | 1997 | WinNT 4.0 OP | NT 4.0 Option Pack |
| December | 1997 | WinNT 4.0 Ent | NT 4.0 Enterprise Version |
| > | 1997 | Memphis |
Windows 98 BETA Program |
| February | 1998 | DR-DOS 7.02 | Caldera release OpenDOS 7.02 (Then rename it as DR-DOS 7.02) |
| April | 1998 | PC-DOS 2000 | PC-DOS 7.0 Revsion 1 - Fully Y2K Compliant Update |
| Q2 | 1998 | WindowsCE 2.01 | Gryphon ~ First Microsoft P/PC OS |
| June | 1998 | Windows 98 OEM | OEM (Pre-Installed) With full FAT32 & USB Support and Integrated Internet Explorer 4.0 (Install CD-ROM is now 'Bootable') |
| June | 1998 | Windows 98 | Retail Windows 98 for
Computers without MS-DOS Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow |
| June | 1998 | Win98 UG | Windows 98 Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows |
| June | 1998 | Educational Pack | Discounted Combined Win98 & NT4.0 for Teachers & Students Only. |
| June | 1998 | Win98 PlusPack | 'Extras' that could have been included on 98 CD! (Say no more!) |
| July | 1998 | WindowsCE 2.1 | Birch ~ P/PC Release |
| August | 1998 | NT5 BETA 2 | Windows NT5 Beta 2 (Becomes Windows 2000 Beta 2) |
| Q3 | Win CE 2.11 Pro | Jupiter ~ CE 2.11 Professional ~ H/PC Release | |
| April | 1999 | Win2000 BETA 3 |
Windows 2000 Beta 3 |
| Q2 | 1999 | Neptune |
Planned successor to Windows 98 (Cancelled Early 2000) See Whistler |
| Q2 | 1999 | Odysee |
Planned successor to Windows NT5 (2000) (Cancelled) See Whistler |
| May | 1999 | Win98 SP1 |
Service Pack 1 for Windows 98 (Major Bug Fixes plus IE 4.01 SP1) |
| May | 1999 | Windows 98SE OEM | OEM (Pre-Installed) Win98 Second Edition - Integrated Internet Explorer 5.0 |
| May | 1999 | Windows 98SE | Retail Windows 98SE for Computers without MS-DOS or Windows |
| May | 1999 | Win98SE UG | Windows 98SE Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows |
| May | 1999 | Educational Pack | Discounted Combined Win98se & NT4.0 (SP-5) for Teachers & Students Only. |
| July/August | 1999 | Millennium |
Millennium
Edition (WinMe) BETA Testing
Program Still rallies on MS-DOS (No longer supports Real Mode) (MS-DOS 8.0) |
| August | 1999 | DR-DOS 7.03 | Caldera release DR-DOS 7.03 then transfer all rights to Lineo, Corp |
| Q3 | 1999 | WindowsCE 2.11 | Wyvern ~ P/PC release |
.> |
1999 | WinMe BETA | Click here for the Full Windows Me TimeLine with Build Numbers. |
| End | 1999 | DR-DOS 7.04 | Lineo release OEM version as DR-DOS 7.04 |
| Early | 2000 | DR-DOS 7.05 BETA | Lineo BETA Test OEM DR-DOS 7.05 but then discontinue DR-DOS development. |
| Q1 | 2000 | Whistler |
Planned future merge of Windows 98, Millennium and NT(2000) into 1 OS |
| February | 2000 | Windows 2000 Professional |
Windows 2000 Professional (NT & Network Users) NO MS-DOS Support Successor to Windows NT 4.0 - Designed for Business Use. Available in Server, Desktop and Upgrade Versions. |
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NT Service Packs | The Latest Service Pack for Windows 2000 is SP-2 Dated May 2001 |
| May | 2000 | WindowsCE 3.0 | For Microsoft's Pocket PC Handheld Devices. A Major Revamp! 2 code-names have been reported = Rapier for P/PC 2000 and Galileo for H/PC 2000 |
| August | 2000 | Windows Me OEM | OEM (Pre-Installed) For
Home Users with Integrated Internet Explorer &
Outlook Express 5.5 and MSN Messenger -
Gold Release 4.10.3000 (ME as in Millennium Edition or Me as in I myself ?) |
| September | 2000 | Windows Me | Retail for Computers
without MS-DOS or Windows Link Site Abandoned - New Screenshots to Follow |
| September | 2000 | Integral MS-DOS 8.0 |
Major change to MS-DOS 8.0 is the removal of 'Real-Mode' Support. Other than that it is identical to MS-DOS 7.10 (This is done by changes to IO.SYS & COMMAND.COM) |
| September | 2000 | WinMe Step-Up | Limited Promotional Step-Up Version for Windows 98/98se Users Only |
| September | 2000 | WinMe UG | Windows Millennium Upgrade for Previous Versions of Windows (Not 3.x) |
| April | 2001 | WindowsCE Talisker |
Microsoft Announces Beta 1 of "Talisker," the Next Version of Windows CE http://www.microsoft.com/PressPass/press/2001/Apr01/04-10TaliskerPR.asp |
| >>>>>>> | 2001 | |
Windows XP is the release name for Windows Whistler and was released on October 25 2001 Due to the large number of 'Builds' it has not been possible to keep listing them! - Read - http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/windowsxp_gold.asp |
| ???????? | 2002 |
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Now that Windows no longer uses a MS-DOS loader or supports it in any way. It is time to close the DOS Timeline. I enjoyed doing it, but now is the time to STOP. For New and Breaking News on Windows and its Future visit http://www.winsupersite.com/default.asp |
Return to DOS Timeline ~ Part One ~ 1980 to 1993
All Copyrights, Tradenames and Trademarks used in this TimeLine are registered or used by their respective owners.
Contents © Copyright - M
Comerford ~ PowerLoad 1999-2005 All rights reserved
